Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems in the American West

Advancing Native American Economies and Workforce Development Report

Across Native communities, tribal nations are strengthening food systems as expressions of sovereignty, cultural continuity, and community well-being. From the Pueblos of New Mexico to the plains of North Dakota and the valleys of Montana, tribal nations are reasserting Tribal Sovereignty through the most fundamental of human activities: growing, preparing, and sharing food.

The programs and projects described in this publication represent assertions of Native American futurity. They demonstrate that traditional knowledge continues to inform responses to contemporary challenges, that tribal communities possess the vision and capacity to chart their own development pathways, and that sovereignty flourishes when rooted in the land that sustains a people.

The Indian Pueblo Entrepreneur Complex (IPEC) in New Mexico is providing infrastructure for Native food enterprises, connecting traditional agricultural practices with business development. Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in North Dakota uses education to strengthen food systems, teaching young people preservation techniques while revitalizing endangered
languages and reconnecting youth to ancestral lands. The Mountain Shadow Association in Montana integrates regenerative agriculture with holistic healing, recognizing that environmental restoration and community well-being are deeply interconnected.

In an era of climate change, food system instability, and cultural homogenization, these Native-led initiatives offer sustainable, culturally grounded development that honors both heritage and innovation.

This report was made possible with generous support from the Allstate Foundation.